Washington DC [US], March 26 (HBTV): The United States and Britain on Monday have sanctioned two individuals and one Wuhan-based company that allegedly targeted critical infrastructure sectors in the US as part of an expansive hacking effort.  

The US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Wuhan Xiaoruizhi Science and Technology Company, Limited, which it said was a Chinese Ministry of State Security front company that has served as cover for multiple malicious cyber operations.    

The Treasury department levied sanctions against two Chinese nationals Zhao Guangzong and Ni Gaobin, as well as the Wuhan Xiaoruizhi Science and Technology Company, which the agency accused of acting as a front for China's top spy agency.  

"OFAC is also designating Zhao Guangzong and Ni Gaobin, two Chinese nationals affiliated with Wuhan XRZ, for their roles in malicious cyber operations targeting U.S. entities that operate within U.S. critical infrastructure sectors, directly endangering US national security," it said in a statement.  

Brian Nelson, the under secretary of the Treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence, said in a statement that, "The United States is focused on both disrupting the dangerous and irresponsible actions of malicious cyber actors, as well as protecting our citizens and our critical infrastructure."  

Additionally, the US Justice Department said that seven Chinese citizens have been indicted for their involvement in a China-based hacking group known as APT31 that spent approximately 14 years targeting US and foreign critics, businesses, and political officials for sensitive information.   

The action is said to be part of a collaborative effort with the US Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of State, and the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the updates stated. 

The US Department of State has announced rewards for justice offer for information on these individuals, their organization, or any associated individuals or entities; and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office implemented matching sanctions.  

Meanwhile, the UK government said that it has identified that Chinese state-affiliated organizations and individuals were responsible for two malicious cyber campaigns targeting democratic institutions and parliamentarians.   

(ANI) This is a syndicated news feed. HBTV has edited it for brevity and clarity.